Option Prioritization Matrix

The community is able to select solutions/options based on visual and systematic way, considering the priorities of the members of community.

B. Usage

This tool is very useful in community meeting where decision needs to be made through consensus.

C. Steps

Facilitator lists down the options generated from community discussion

Facilitator lists down concerns/considerations (what aspects are of importance, related to the subject of discussion) generated from community discussion

Facilitator arranges options and considerations in a matrix, options being in columns, and considerations being in rows

Facilitator asks members of community to vote for prioritizing available considerations based on importance. Depending on the size of community, one person can have one vote or more. Voting can be done using variety of means, among others: stickers, markers, stones (on the ground), etc.

Facilitator marks the priority/rank for the considerations, if possible reorder the rows (consideration) based on the importance.

Facilitator guides discussion within community by each option evaluating which considerations are addressed by choosing a particular options. Facilitator can assign score or by sign (+++, ++, +). The benefit of using score, facilitator can use the priority as a weight for a consideration (more important more weigh), and then facilitator can multiply the weigh with the score of each option to result the total score.

Facilitator tries to gain consensus by using this visual and measurable method for community decision and acceptance of a solution/option.

D. Example

In a remote district, the project co-funded by government and IFAD is planning to provide primary school facility for 3 villages: village A, village B and village C. Village A has the access to the market but being separated by a river, while village B and village C have closer distance. Village A has smallest number of households, hence small number of students, whereas village C has the biggest number of households. The project now in the stage of initiating the development by deciding on the location of the school facility. A facilitator is assigned to reach a consensus among members of three villages.

Firstly, facilitator invites members of villages A, B and C, and convenes a community meeting. Facilitator asks the community about the options for possible locations of the school. From the discussion, facilitator is able to conclude 3 main options: In Village C (Option I), between Village B and C (Option II), and between village A and B. From the discussion also can be concluded that to build school in between A and B, a bridge would be required to be built, however the some members of community think that this option is worth to consider, since a bridge would also increase access to the market.

Secondly, facilitator asks the community to mention what are the criteria (considerations) for an ideal locations of the school. From a lively moderated discussion, facilitator can conclude that the criteria are:

Near to the middle

Less cost

Considering new bridge as additional benefit (access to market)

Close to village C (biggest number of students)

Safe for the children

Then facilitator arrange both in a matrix (options as columns, criteria as rows), as picture below:

The facilitator then gets the community members to vote the criteria in the order of importance, in the above picture the criteria are sorted already from the most important to the least. Facilitator assigns also the weight for each criteria, from 5 to 1 (since there were 5 criteria), ''near middle'' criterion receives 5 weighting.

The facilitator then evaluates each option by considering criteria, which criteria are addressed by selecting particular option. Facilitator assigns marks or scores. In this case the facilitator uses marks (X and -) to signify the impact of options on criteria.

After a lengthy and lively discussion, the facilitator manages to reach a consensus in assigning marks on the matrix. By multiplying the weight with the number of marks, they then get the final total score.

Option I (in village C): (10X +4X +2X) = 16X

Option II (in between B and C): 2X

Option III (in between A and B): (10X - 4X + 9X + 2X) = 17X

Therefore facilitator together with community can decide that the school should be built between A and B (Option III), with additional construction of a new bridge.

E. Source

APMAS Training Course on "Supporting Community-Driven Development Process" held in Vietnam and India, December 2010. Training was provided by MDF Training and Consultancy. For more information on this tool, please contact Diederik Prakke.